The thieves evidently cut through a chain link fence to gain access to the cable, police spokesman Rodney Brown said. The stolen cable was worth $7,000 and the cost to repair the fence was around $150, business owners said.

A week later on Nov. 6, the police went to the electrical division of North Platte Municipal Light & Water, 615 N. Tabor, where some copper wire was stolen. That fence was also cut, Brown said.

Later, a local salvage company called Muni (Municipal Light & Water) and said Seth Jackson, 25, of North Platte, was at their salvage yard trying to sell a small amount of copper. Officers were dispatched, but Jackson left before they arrived.

Finally, around 1 a.m. Thursday, officers found Jackson in a car near his home and arrested him, charging him with the theft of Century Link cable as well as possession of stolen property from Muni, Brown said.

Jackson is in the Lincoln County Jail, held on $10,000 bond. He was assigned to the public defenderís office and ordered to reappear in court next week.